WCRC Licence Suspended

I notice near the bottom of the article it says "...DB Schenker, the only firm which could run the Jacobite on its behalf, had shown no interest." Is it to be assumed that WCRC inquired about DBS running it on their behalf?

 

Probably not no. I don't envy his position during this time either. We've all come to appreciate his excellent site over the years, and enjoy planning our trips with reference to it. It must be very frustrating for him not to be able to provide that at the moment, and although he's only one of many effected, I do feel for him just now.

 

It does read that way doesn't it as it reports a reaction to a question from them. Can't imagine who else would have asked that question other than WCR.

 

Interesting that no-one has indicated any contact with DRS as it has both experience of Class 37 traction and has a passenger licence. The (unspoken) bonus of the Jacobite is that it is also advertised as a "Scenic route" and "the Harry Potter" route hence the traction is less important hence the acceptability of Class 37s being used. I suppose it now depends on which strand of marketing (viz steam haulage / scenic route) has the greatest effect in retaining customer acceptance of the traction at the front.

 

The Fort William - Mallaig line does not carry any freight traffic except for engineering trains so it is likely that DBS, GBRF and DRS have no drivers who sign the route, not forgetting passenger guards.

 

I'm a bit bemused by the speculation about possible diesel traction of The Jacobite. It has been pointed out several times that the suspension by NR and possible loss of licence from ORR apply to WCRC, not specifically to steam traction. Either WCRC will be able to resume operation of the Jacobite, sooner or later, in which case that should be with steam, subject possibly to temporary diesel substitution because of fire risk or loco failure, or they won't, in which case it won't run at all unless and until another TOC decides to offer a new version.

 

It's not surprising that DBS have shown no interest in the Jacobite. Two daily trains throughout the peak season would have needed half of their steam crews permanently based in Fort William. Even if they could have got the volunteers I suspect the impact on the rest of the business would have precluded it. If WCRC are out of action in the longer term it may be worth watching what developments take place with regard to Scotrail's projected steam programme as this could indicate a way forward.

 

Is there a possibility WCRC may be granted a licence for diesel traction only as an interim measure perhaps?

 

Why - the suspension relates to safety matters as noted above it has absolutely nothing to do with any difference between steam and diesesel...

 

Why would Network Rail do that, when the issue is not with the traction but how WCRC manage their safety?

From what's in the public domain, WCRC have not been barred because of the Wootton Basset spad, nor the traction involved. Therefore, it makes no sense to let them back out on a diesel only basis before they have met the requirements put on them by Network Rail.

 

The issue with WCRC has been safety systems, reponse to incidents, and paper trail, the traction involved is irrelevant, we'd be in the same situation had it been a WCRC 47 at Wootton Bassett instead of 34067, don't be drawn into thinking steam is under the spotlight, it's just coincidence that TOC in question runs 95% of it.

 

They have been talking about their hobby. Its human nature, unless you go down the pub and sit in silence, its what most people do.

 

At this very minute WC can't provide any traction at all and it's wrong for them to be making optimistic noises about when they'll be back in action, there's no guarantee that they ever will be back in action. NR and ORR have got the hump with them (rightly so IMO) and they are the folk holding all the aces. The Phil Verster episode should have sounded the alarm bells for WC (apparently it didn't)
The GB VIII was a disaster, WC were making optimistic noises about that, people lost money through no fault of their own. As it stands at this moment The Jacobite is a non starter

 

But Wooton wasn't the trigger for the suspension. It was the cumulative effect of a number of problems that put WCRC under the spotlight. Both previous major events prior to Wooton were steam and these were doubtless where concern began to grow.
I'd say that if NR was satisfied their systems were up to scratch but the steam safety case needed a little more improvement, an incremental approach would be to limit their licence like most of the other TOCs. Not saying it will be so at all but it might be possible. Not necessarily an all or nowt position perhaps.

 

No no no Victor, you've got that quite wrong. The Jacobite will run, starting in eleven days time - it says so on West Coast's website.

The fact that the carriages are currently locked up 250 miles away from Fort William, the locos are God knows where, in the main having not run for several months and the operator is banned from running on the railway and under formal investigation by the regulator should in no way distract from the fact that The Jacobite - Famous Steam Train will definitely start running in just over a week's time...

Tom

 

Rumour Control has it the WCRC are hoping to be up and running from Midnight tonight and, if so, certain locos will start to move tomorrow. Can only wait and see if this actually happens.

 

The fact that the stock can be up there overnight, the locos are not only at the NYMR but in use today http://www.nymr.co.uk/ seems to have passed you by.

If you're going to be negative, at least be factually negative.

 

God forbid anyone might be bored during an election, but if your wondering about the wider issues with WCRC it's worth reading the comments made here following the independent adjudication last year - some rather prescient thoughts it has to be said.

 

the locos are God knows where, in the main having not run for several months

I hope that you're not suggesting that the NYMR is of no consequence and that any mileage there doesn't count!